Top 15 Health Benefits of Coconut Milk
Coconut (Cocos nucifera) belongs to the Palm family (Arecaceae). Grown in abundance in Malaysia, Polynesia and southern Asia, Spanish explorers named the cocos - meaning 'grinning face', because of the three little eyes on the base which they thought resembled a monkey.
Classed as a fruit and frequently confused for being a nut, the coconut is actually a one-seeded drupe. In Sanskrit, the coconut palm is known as kalpa vriksha - 'tree which gives all that is necessary for living' because nearly all parts can be used, the water, milk, flesh, sugar and oil. Even the husks and leaves are used as materials in furnishings and decoration. Palm trees produce coconuts up to 13 times a year and although it takes a year for the coconuts to mature, a fully blossomed tree can produce between 60-180 coconuts in a single harvest.
Coconut milk, as the name suggests is a liquid extracted from grated coconut. Don’t confuse it with coconut water as the latter is obtained from inside the coconut shells. Due to its rich and creamy consistency, it can be used as a milk substitute. In Southeast Asia, it is often used as a common food ingredient
There are different grades of coconut milk depending upon its thickness. Thick milk contains about 20 to 22% of fat whereas thin milk has 5 to 7% of fat levels. Most of this fat is saturated fat. Thick milk is used in desserts and dry sauces whereas thin milk is used in soups and general cooking.
This milk is rich in vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6 as well as iron, selenium, calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. Thus, this sweet creamy liquid can be a part of a healthy diet and is a great option for those who are allergic to animal milk.
Now for this top fifteen article, we are showcasing some of the health benefits of coconut milk. Have some time to read and checkout the 15 health benefits of coconut milk below. Enjoy!
Top 15: Make-up Remover
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Coconut milk can be used as make-up remover. You can mix coconut oil and milk in the ratio of 1:2 and use this concoction to remove eye make-up as well as moisturize skin. Thus, it is a great alternative for harsh alcohol ridden chemicals to get rid of make-up around the most sensitive area of your face.
Top 14: Treatment of Skin Ailments
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Due to its moisturizing properties, coconut milk can soothe the symptoms of psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema. The natural fatty acids in this milk can help treat dry and irritated skin and remove harmful bacteria from your skin.
Top 13: Anti-ageing Benefits
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Consumption or application of coconut milk improves skin elasticity due to its copper and vitamin C content. These nutrients slow down the ageing process of your skin and body by maintaining flexibility and elasticity of the skin and blood vessels. Thus, it prevents wrinkles, sagging skin and age spots.
Top 12: Treatment of Sunburns
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Applying plain coconut milk is effective in treating sun damaged skin. All you need to do is apply a thin layer of cool coconut milk to the sunburnt area. The fats and oil in this milk help reduce redness and restore moisture to sunburnt skin. Applying coconut milk topically on the affected areas and leaving it overnight or bathing in it can ease the pain of burns or rashes caused by exposure to sun.
Top 11: Moisturizer:
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Due to its soothing properties, coconut milk is a great moisturizer that can replace moisture in dehydrated skin. Try adding a cup of rose petals, half a cup of rose water and a cup of coconut milk to lukewarm bath water. Soaking in this bath for about 15 minutes will help restore moisture to dry skin. You can directly rub coconut milk on your skin and leave it for 30 minutes to get absorbed. This will combat dryness and promote healthy and glowing skin. But make sure that you use fresh homemade coconut milk for this purpose.
Top 10: Great Conditioner
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Coconut milk is a great organic hair conditioner to provide you with longer and thicker hair. You can take equal amounts of coconut milk and shampoo in your hands and rinse your hair as usual. You can also use it as a leave in conditioner which gives added volume to your hair without making them greasy. Take a small amount of coconut milk on your palm and rub your hands together. Bend forward such that your hair is flowing towards the floor and rub the coconut milk on your hair from roots to ends including the underside of your hair at the nape of your neck.
Top 9: Hair Detangler
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Coconut milk acts as a natural detangler for your hair. All you need to do is rub some coconut milk while combing your hair on the tangles and comb right through it.
Top 8: Prevents Balding
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Coconut milk used with some other organic compounds can be extremely beneficial for hair growth. For this purpose, you can mix around 50 ml of coconut milk with 100 ml of plain water and add a few tablespoons of camphor solution to the mixture. This mix is quite helpful for people with balding problems. Massage you scalp including the bald spots with this mixture and leave it for a couple of hours. Rinse off with warm water and placing a towel on your head, allow it to disappear naturally instead if rubbing your hair dry.
Top 7: Nourishes the Hair:
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Applying coconut milk on your scalp gives a cooling sensation. It nourishes your hair by giving natural moisture from roots to ends. You can apply some fresh homemade coconut milk and massage for three to five minutes. Leave it for 20 minutes and shampoo your hair as usual. This will boost the hair follicles and stimulate hair growth. This is particularly beneficial for restoring dry, damaged, weakened and brittle hair as well as split ends.
Top 6: Stronger Immune System
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Coconut milk contains lauric acid, antimicrobial lipids and capric acid which possess antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. This lauric acid on entering the human body gets converted into a compound called monolaurin which is believed to fight the viruses and bacteria that cause herpes, influenza and even HIV.
Top 5: Aids in Weight Loss
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Coconut milk is often considered as a fattening agent due to its saturated fats. But it is also rich in fiber, which makes you feel full for a longer time and if taken in moderation, can help to control weight.
Top 4: Great Source of Magnesium:
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Coconut milk is a rich source of magnesium, providing around 89 milligrams per cup. This mineral helps to calm the nerves and maintain normal blood pressure as well as prevent nerve cells from becoming overactive by virtue being stimulated by calcium. It results in the reduction of muscle contraction, thus making you feel more relaxed.
Top 3: Lowers Cholesterol
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Though coconut milk contains saturated fat, it can actually reduce cholesterol levels in comparison to butter and dairy based creams. This is because of its lauric acid boosts HDL (good) cholesterol. When choosing among saturated fats, coconut milk is preferable as it is easier for the body to break down and metabolize healthy fats such as omega 6 essential fatty acids.
Top 2: Treatment of Arthritis
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Selenium found in coconut milk is an antioxidant, which relieves arthritis symptoms by controlling free radicals and decreasing the risk of joint inflammation.
Top 1: Strong Bones:
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Although coconut milk does not contain as much calcium as regular milk (38 mg per cup), it is a rich source of phosphorus. It provides around (how much) milligrams of phosphorus per cup which contributes to strong bones.
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Please be noted that the top 15 that we are including here in our blog are all unofficial rankings unless otherwise noted. Most of the top fifteen lists are based on Google search results and collected mainly from different blogs and websites around the internet world
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